Rep. Jared Moskowitz

Maddy summaryThe Paycheck Fairness Act strengthens equal pay protections by expanding the definition of "sex" to include pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. It modifies employer defenses for pay disparities to require proof that any pay difference is job-related, not based on sex, and accounts for the entire pay gap. The bill prohibits employers from asking about salary history, enhances penalties for violations, and requires employers with 100+ employees to collect and report detailed pay data by race, sex, and job category. It also establishes training programs for employers on eliminating pay bias and creates a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to coordinate enforcement efforts. This legislation directly affects employers, particularly those with 100+ employees, and aims to address pay disparities impacting women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 80 would declare the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) part of the U.S. Constitution, asserting it has been ratified by 38 states (three-fourths of the states) despite the original 1972 deadline. If passed, this resolution would formally establish the ERA as a constitutional amendment, requiring all federal and state laws to align with its gender equality protections. The bill does not create new laws but confirms the ERA's status as part of the Constitution, affecting how laws are interpreted and enforced. It is a procedural step to resolve the legal dispute over the ERA's validity after decades of debate.

Maddy summaryHR 2296, the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act, requires the National Weather Service (NWS) to replace its internal instant messaging system (NWSChat) with a commercial cloud-based solution by October 1, 2027. The new system must accommodate future growth, support increased users, be user-friendly, and resemble common commercial platforms. Funding up to $3 million annually from 2026-2029 will cover this upgrade, sourced from existing NWS operational budgets. This bill directly affects NWS personnel who rely on internal communications for weather forecasting and warnings.

Maddy summaryHR 2308, the FEMA Independence Act of 2025, would establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a cabinet-level independent agency within the executive branch, separate from the Department of Homeland Security. The bill would transfer all FEMA functions from the Department of Homeland Security to the new independent agency, with the President appointing a Director who must have at least five years of emergency management experience and five years of executive leadership experience in both public and private sectors. The legislation includes a 365-day transition period for transferring personnel, assets, and functions, and makes conforming amendments to other laws to reflect FEMA's new status. This change would directly affect FEMA employees, the Department of Homeland Security, and the federal emergency management system.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and expands U.S.-Israel energy cooperation programs through 2031. It increases annual funding for the BIRD Energy Foundation from $2 million to $5 million and for the U.S.-Israel Energy Center from $4 million to $7 million, extending support through fiscal years 2026-2031. The bill adds new focus areas like hydrogen energy, fusion, industrial decarbonization, carbon management, agrivoltaics, grid modernization, and energy infrastructure cybersecurity to existing collaboration efforts. These changes directly affect U.S. and Israeli energy companies, researchers, and institutions working on commercializing clean energy technologies.

Maddy summaryHR 2095, the Postal Police Reform Act of 2025, amends existing law to clarify the roles of USPS police officers and their authority over property. It explicitly includes "Postal Service police officers" alongside Postal Inspectors in Section 3061 of Title 18, U.S. Code, and gives the Postmaster General new authority to create rules for protecting USPS-owned or controlled property. These rules can include fines or up to 30 days in jail for violations, with penalties clearly defined under the law. The bill directly affects USPS police officers and individuals on USPS property by standardizing their regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryHRES 216 is a resolution condemning the leadership of the House Republican Conference for allowing a social media post that falsely questioned the immigration status and patriotism of Congressman Adriano Espaillat (Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus). The resolution specifically names House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and other top Republican leaders as responsible for the post. It characterizes the post as xenophobic and inappropriate, stating such rhetoric violates the standards of conduct expected of members of Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 2029, the "Stop Comstock Act," amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated restrictions on abortion and contraception. It deletes references to "indecent" materials and abortion-related language from Title 18 (e.g., removing "or means for procuring abortion" from section 552 and revising definitions in sections 1461 and 1462). The bill clarifies that federal law does not prohibit the distribution of materials related to abortion or contraceptives, updating how "obscene" is defined. These changes directly affect federal enforcement of obscenity laws, particularly regarding medical information and devices. The bill focuses on modernizing statutory language to align with current legal standards for protected speech and healthcare access.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Maddy summaryHR 2081, the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the 627 women who served as Red Cross volunteers in the Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program during the Vietnam War. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented by Congress and then given to the Smithsonian Institution for display. It also allows the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This commemorative act recognizes the volunteers' service supporting over 280,000 troops through recreation programs across Vietnam from 1965 to 1973.